Pre-Field Orientation

Well, the first week went off without a hitch!! I really love most of the sessions and felt challenged to embrace these things! I am completely amazed at the wealth of information being presented. There are several aspects of International teaching that I did not realize! I am truly grateful to the NICS for making us come and giving us a relaxed venue to understand these cultural, personal, and teaching differences. I'm glad that everything worked out this way-in order for me to attend this orientation. God knows what He is doing! (of course!). I think I would have been a bit of a mess without all of this!

I am also networking and learning how to be a roommate (like literally in the same room) with several (5) people at a time. I walked in unsure how this was going to work and questioning a lot of things. Upon giving it up to God-it works very well. Our personalities and lives seemed so different at first. (We all have Jesus in common-of course) Then-within a moment of mentioning a childhood favorite movie-"Anne of Green Gables"-we've begun to really spend the last part of our day (every day) watching this together-in community. We do lots of other things in community as well-Bible Studies (love them), corporate worship, our sessions, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then taking random "field trips-as i call them" to be good little tourists. This has been excellent for us as we realize what we will deal with overseas.

1 Peter has been the focus for Bible Studies this week. We've been looking at self-control, humility, hospitality, love, and hope. I think we're all walking around seriously evaluating ourselves in order to better serve others. That is what all of this is about-Who we are, how we can use our strengths, what we need to work on, and how God can use all of this to glorify Himself. There is glory in our weaknesses and shortcomings-when we see that these areas require much prayer. I find that I lean on Him more and more when assessing my weaknesses.
On Wednesday, we will talk about "suffering victouriously which brings many opportunities to think about great heroes of the faith in the Bible and today. :)

More Later!!!!